Table with retractable casters



Oct. 13, 1953 R. A. CRAMER 2,655,337

TABLE WITH RETRACTABLE CASTERS Filed Aug. 28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

F0 A from BY ATTO/FAIEYJ' Oct. 13, 1953 R. A. CRAMER TABLE WITHRETRACTABLE CASTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 INVENTOR. Pay4. Kramer BY Z Oct. 13, 1953 R. A. CRAMER 2,555,337

TABLE WITH RETRACTABLE CASTERS 7 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. fly /7. Kramer 5W MW ATZUIMEYS Oct. 13, 1953 R. A. CRAMERTABLE WITH RETRACTABLE CASTERS,

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 INVENTOR. AOQ/U A 00/778/ mamATWF/VEKS Patented Oct. 13, 1953 TABLE WITH RETRACTABLE CASTERS RoyA.Cramer, Kansas City, Mo.

Application August 28, 1950, Serial No. 181,848

Claims.

This invention relates to stands or tables and is particularly adaptablefor use in ofiices for supporting typewriters, adding machines or otherofiice equipment as well as other uses.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tablehaving legs equipped with bell-shaped bases and casters operable withinthe bell-shaped bases, and lever means for lowering the table from itssupport on the casters and supporting the same upon the bell-shapedbases for preventing moving on the floor when in use and raising thebases to support the table on the casters for movement as desired.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a table or standhaving a framework structure made from hollow tubing; to provide rodsconnected to the casters extending vertically through said tubular legs;to provide means for retaining the rods in the legs; to provide anadjustable base on one of the legs to accommodate for unevenness infloors; to provide lever arms underneath the table top having their freeends engageable with the top of the caster rods; to provide a handlehaving connection with the lever arms provided with cam means forraising or lowering the caster rods in the tubular legs; to provide anoperating handle underneath the table top conveniently located for easyoperation; to provide the underside of the table top with ribs formingchannel ways for the lever arms; to provide ears on said ribs forpivotally mounting the lever arms in said channelways; and to provide adevice of this character simple, economical to manufacture and eificientin operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table showing the parts indisassembled relation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the underneath side of the table top.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in crosssection illustrating thecaster in lowered position.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view partly in crosssection showing the casterin raised position.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the handle showing the cam member forraising and lowering the lever arm. v

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on a line g- 5 Fig. 8 is across-sectional view taken on a line 8-8. Fig. 5.

, engage in said openings in the threaded bores oi.-

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an adjustable base on one of the legs. VFig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the base and legillustrating the adjustable feature.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on th line ll-H, Fig. 10.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a table or stand embodying the features of my inventioncomprising a top 2 supported by a plurality of legs 3 having upper crossarms 4 and lower cross arms 5 connected by a brace G. The legs arepreferably made of tubular material and the cross arms 4 and 5 arewelded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The ends of the cross arm6 are provided with brackets I having openings to accommodate set,screws or the like 8 for securing the respective ends to the cross arms5.

Pressed into the lower end of the tubular leg 3 are shanks 9 ofbell-shaped hollow bases ID for accommodating casters II. The loweredges l2 of the bell-shaped bases are adapted to engage in a groove l3of non-skid members I 4 such as rubber, plastic or the like.

Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper ends of the legs 3 andextending inwardly therefrom are brackets I5 having out-turned flangesIS on the respective sides provided with openings IT. The top 2 isadapted to rest on and be secured to the brackets Hi. The top has adepending flange 18 around the outer periphery thereof. The top ispreferably cast in one piece and has a plurality of spaced ribs Iii-I9and 20-2l extending from near the respective corners of the top to nearthe center of the underneath side of the table. The inner portion of theribs [9 and 20 are spaced apart as best illustrated in Fig. 3, and theribs I9 and 2| are also spaced apart at the center thereof and areconnected by a rib 22 provided with a depending arm 23:

for a purpose later described.

The ribs [9 and 2| have connecting ribs 2t substantially toward thecenter of the top and 32 and 33 are provided on the ribs 211 and 28.

The threaded depending bosses 30, 3|, 32 and 33 are so located to mateand align with the opening I! in the brackets l5 and threaded bolts 34,

3 the depending bosses to hold the top to the supporting base or legs.

The ribs form a support for the top to make a more rigid structure andalso to form substantially V-shaped channelways 36 and 31 extending fromthe respective corners of the top to near the center thereof, and spacedfrom the rib 22. Adapted .to engage in the channelways 36 and 31 aresubstantially V-shaped arms 38 and 39 having their free ends 40 and 4|extending to substantially near the corners of the table top. Thechannelways 36 and 31 are provided at substantially midway of the armswith deepndi-ng spaced ears 42 and 43 to which each leg of the arms ispivoted by pins 44 and 45. The legs of the arms 38 and 39 are connectedby arms and 41 and said arms are provided with inwardly facing flanges48 and 49 extending around the V-shaped portion of the arm as bestillustrated in Fig. 3. A handle lever 50 is provided having spaced earsprovided with an opening 52 adapted to receive a bolt 53 for engaging inthe opening 54 of the arm 23 depending from substantially the center ofthe table top. The ears 5| provide cams adapted to engage the flanges 48and 49 of the V-shaped arms 38 and 39 for a purpose later described. Theouter end of the handle 50 is provided with a finger portion 5 5. Thehandle is of a length so that the finger por tion will extend slightlyoutside of the side 5% of the table top as indicated at '57, Fig. 1, sothat it will be readily accessible 'to the operator of the table. Thecorners of the top are provided with depending bosses 58 having a slot98 through which the ends 4.0 and 41, respectively, of the arms '38 and39 extend.

The casters are provided with upstanding rods 59 which engage in thetubular shank 9 of the base member in and extend upwardly to near thetop of the table as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.. Adapted to fit in theupper end of the tubular legs are guide sleeves 60 having an outwardlyextending flange SI for retaining the sleeves within the legs. The guidesleeves are slotted as indicated at 62,, Fig. 2, and the upper end ofthe tubular legs are also slotted as indicated at 63, Fig. 4. The upperends of the rods 59 are provided with transverse threaded openings 64adapted to receive the threaded shank 65 of pins 66 which extend throughthe slots 63 and 52, respectively, of the upper ends of the legs and theguide sleeves thus preventing the casters from falling out of the legsif the table is raised from the floor or other supporting structure.

In operation of .a table constructed and assembled as described, it will.be noted the bosses 51 are in substantial alignment with the tops ofthe tubular legs 3, and the free ends All and H of the arms 38 and .39extend through the slots 63 and .62, respectively, of the legs 3 and theguide sleeve .60. With the lever 50 extended downwardly as .indicated inFigs. .5 and 6, the cams on the ears 5| will be out of contact with thesurface of the flanges 48 and Y49, respectively, .of the arms 46 and 41of the V-shaped members 38 and 29,, thus allowing the weight of thetable to push the casters II upwardly and allow the "bell-shaped basesto contact the floor or other supporting structure, the non-skid devices14 preventing sliding of the table over the floor.

When it is desired to move the table, raising of the lever 50 upwardlytowards the top of the table will cause a cam action of the lever on theflanges to pivot the V-shaped arms 38 and 39 to cause the outer freeends to move downwardly pushing the caster rods 59 down and raising thetable so that the casters will engage the floor and roll thereover. Thecam surface of the ears 5| will lock the lever arms 38 and 39 to holdthe casters by means of a rod 59, extended until it is desired to againlower the bell-shaped bases to the floor by movment of the lever arm 50downwardly as above described.

vIn Fig. 9, I have shown the leg of'the table I that is provided with anadjustable base for accommodating unevenness in floors upon which thetable is used. The lower end of one of the hollow legs out slightlyshorter than the remaining legs as indicated at 68 (Fig. 10). A hollowsleeve 69 is pressed into the lower end of hollow leg forms a bearingfor the rod 59 attached to the caster II. The lower end of the hollowsleeve 69 extends below the end 69 of the leg 3 and is provided withthreads 10 adapted to receive internal threads H of a hub or stem 12extending upwardly from the bellshaped base 13 forming a housing for thecaster l I. The upper end of the threads 10 is flattened and the lowerend of the leg 3 rests thereon. The hub or stem 52 is provided withradial grooves 14 around its periphery as best illustrated in 11. Abracket 15 is secured to the lower end of the leg 3 by set screws or thelike 16, and if desired, may be threaded into the threaded bores i! inthe sleeve 69 to assist in holding the sleeve 69 in the leg. The bracket15 is preferably made of spring steel and has an inwardly turned flange18 adapted to engage in the radial groove 14 of the stem 12 to hold thebase 73 in position after it has been adjusted to the floor.

While I have here shown the adjustable base on only one leg, it may beplaced on as many legs as desired without departing from the spirit ofmy invention, and may be easily adjusted by turning the base withrespect to the leg to the desired place to engage the floor.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that 'I have provided an improvedtable or stand having lever mechanism underneath the table topconnecting with rods attached to casters for easy retraction andextension of the casters as desired. and an adjustable base foraccommodating unevenness in floors.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table of the character described comprising, a top, tubular legssupporting said top, said legs having bell-shaped bottoms forming hollowbases for said legs, casters having rods secured thereto extendingupwardly through said tubular legs and to near "the top thereof, guidesleeves in the top of said less, said sleeves and the top of said legshaving slots therein, said rods having threaded openings .near the upperends thereof, a pin extending through said slots and into said threadedOpenings for limiting sliding movement of said rods in said legs,substantially v-shaped arms pivotally mounted to the underneath side ofsaid top, said arms having free ends engaging the top of said casterrods, and a lever engaging said arms for pivoting same to move thecaster .rods and extend the casters from said bases to raise the basesfrom I a supporting structure.

way thereof, said one of the ribs separating said channelways having adepending arm, arms pivotally mounted to the ears in said channelwaysand having portions parallel with and adjacent said separating rib insaid channelways, tubular legs supporting said top, said legs havinghollow bases on the lower ends thereof, casters having rods securedthereto extended upwardly through the tubular legs, and a lever havingcam surfaces pivotally mounted on said depending arm for engaging thepivoted arms and moving same in response to operation of said lever,said pivoted arms having free ends engaging the top of said rods wherebythe weight of the table causes the bases to engage a support andmovement of said lever will cause the cam surfaces thereof to engagesaid arms to pivot said arms in the channelways and move said rods insaid legs to extend said casters from the bases and raise same from thesupport.

3. A table of the character described comprising, a top having ribsforming channelways separated by one of the ribs into substantiallyV-shaped channelways, said V-shaped channelways having depending earssubstantially mid way thereof, said one of the ribs separating saidchannelways having a depending arm, arms pivotally mounted to the earsin said channelways and having portions parallel with and adjacent saidseparating rib in said channelways, said arms having facing flangesadjacent said depending arm, tuBular legs supporting said top, said legshaving hollow bases on the lower ends thereof, casters having rodssecured thereto extended upwardly through the tubular legs, and a leverhaving cam surfaces pivotally mounted on said depending arm for engagingsaid facing flanges on said arms and pivoting said arms in response tooperation of said lever, said pivoted arms having free ends engaging thetop of said rods whereby the weight of the table causes the bases toengage a floor and movement of said lever will cause the cam surfacesthereof to engage said facing flanges and pivot said arms and move saidrods in said legs to extend said casters from the bases and raise samefrom the floor.

4. A table of the character described comprising, a top having ribsforming channelways separated by one of the ribs into substantiallyV-shaped channelways, said V-shaped channelways having depending earssubstantially midway thereof, said one of the ribs separating saidchannelways having a depending arm, substantially V-shaped armspivotally mounted to the ears in said channelways and having portionsparallel with and adjacent said separating rib in said channelways, saidarms having facing flanges adjacent said depending arm, tubular legshaving inwardly extending brackets supporting said top, said legs havinghollow bases on the lower ends thereof. casters having rods securedthereto extended upwardly through the tubular legs, a lever having camsurfaces pivotally mounted on said depending arm for engaging saidfacing flanges on said V-shaped arms and pivoting said V-shaped arms inresponse to operation of said lever, and means slidably retaining therods in said legs, said V-shaped arms having free ends engaging the topof said rods whereby the Weight of the table causes the bases to engagea floor and movement of said lever will cause the cam surfaces thereofto engage said facing flanges of said arms to pivot said arms to extendsaid casters in said bases and raise the bases from the floor.

5. A table of the character described comprising, a top having ribsforming channelways separated by one of the ribs into substantiallyV-shaped channelways, said V-shaped channelways having depending earssubstantially midway thereof, a said one of the ribs separating saidchannelways having a depending arm, substantially V-shaped armspivotally mounted to the ears in said channelways and having portionsparallel with and adjacent said separating rib in said channelways, saidarms having facing flanges adjacent said depending arm, tubular legshaving inwardly extending brackets supporting said top, said legs havinghollow bases on the lower ends thereof, casters having rods securedthereto extended upwardly through the tubular legs, a lever having camsurfaces pivotally mounted on said depending arm for engaging saidfacing flanges on said V-shaped arms and pivoting said V-shaped arms inresponse to operation of said lever, guide sleeves in the upper ends ofsaid legs, and means slidably retaining the rods in said legs, saidV-shaped arms having free ends engaging the top of said rods whereby theweight of the table causes the bases to engage a floor and movement ofsaid lever will cause the cam surfaces thereof to engage said facingflanges of said arms to pivot said arms to extend said casters in saidbases and raise the bases from the floor.

ROY A. CRAMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 901,636 McIntire Oct. 20, 1908 1,016,745 Henrikson Feb. 6,1912 1,092,220 Koch et al. Apr. 7, 1914 1,626,819 Hazlett May 3, 19271,749,751 Bergsten Mar. 11, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 390Great Britain of 1901 17,096 Great Britain of 1908 147,638 Germany Jan.22, 1904 234,265 Germany Mar. 5, 1911

